As Nepal became the newest republic, the photographs of the previous king were removed from all offices and important places across the country. The next logical step would have been, following the election of the first president of the country, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, to have his photograph in government offices and major public places. But that hasn´t happened yet. Have we ever pondered why the photographs of our right honorable president are not visible in key places which once had pictures of the royal family?
I have posed this question before scores of people from different walks of life and each of them said that it was an embarrassing lapse. Image Channel, a private television station, broadcast a documentary on the topic about a year ago. Mr Arjun Nursing KC and Mr Shanker Pokhrel, who were then spokespersons of Nepali Congress and the government respectively, were interviewed in the documentary. Both of them agreed that the president´s picture should have been hung on the walls of important offices. But nothing has changed even after a year. Why the constituent assembly and the government are not paying attention to such a legitimate, historical issue of national concern?
It would have been the simplest way of depicting the advent of a new era. At the same time, it would have been an absolutely historically and politically correct step on the part of the state. And it would also have taken a proper care of the emotion of the people of the whole nation-- the people of the Himalayas, Hills and Madhesh.
Let us look at the issue a bit more broadly--why is it important? The moment someone ascends to the highest office of the Head of State, he does not belong to any particular caste, creed, region or political parties. He raises above all these narrow political labels and becomes the symbol of unity for the whole nation. The photograph of the Head of State hanging on the wall of public offices is, therefore, a mark of respect to him and national unity.
Since President Yadav happens to be the first elected head of state of the Democratic Republic of Nepal, his photographs assume even more importance.
In any county around the world, the photograph of the Head of the State appears in the walls of public offices immediately after the new head of state occupies the coveted office.
Why such an important issue has not come to the notice of the so-called wise people running the nation? Is it just a slip of mind or a part of some kind of conspiracy? Does it in any way reflect intellectual and historical bankruptcy of our society? Is this a result of some form of discrimination?
Who is at fault for this confusion? Undoubtedly, it is the whole Constituent Assembly which is feeding all the CA members including the Speaker with a look of Greek philosopher Socrates and the prime minister giving the sense of most knowledgeable citizen. It appears that the President’s Secretariat has also not done its job and has failed to offer an appropriate guidance in this direction. The nation owes a joint apology from all of them.
President Yadav´s statements, views and vision on the matters pertaining to national interests have been widely appreciated from all segments of society– across different regions, ethnicities and political parties.
President Yadav´s statements, views and vision on the matters pertaining to national interests have been widely appreciated from all segments of society-- across different regions, ethnicities and political parties. And his perception on national unity has been unparalleled. Because of his extraordinarily consistent and fearless approach on such issues, he had to face a lot of political resistance at his home ground during the Constituent Assembly election. He never deviated from his nationalistic stand of not letting anybody divide the nation at any cost. If we judge him on the basis of his actions that he has taken and views he has expressed so far, he has unquestionably attained a stature of a Statesman?
Finally, which all are the places where the photograph of the Head of the State should have been hung? To my best knowledge, it should be in all important places like the PM’s office, Constituent Assembly, ministries, all other government offices, airport and the last but not the least, Nepali embassies and other diplomatic missions all over the world. The presence of president’s photograph at these places will symbolize the change that has happened in our nation which was historical.
raj@gurkhaencounters.com
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